The Times-Nets |
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By Myrna Trauntvein On May 13, 2025, during the regular session of Nephi City Council meeting, the council approved the recommendation of employing Sunrise Engineering to design and provide support for implementation of the Nephi City Sewer Lagoon Expansion Project. “The project consists of finding the proper location to expand the sewer lagoons to accommodate for continuing city growth,” said Seth Atkinson, city administrator. “Sunrise Engineering was selected to design the new lagoons and modify existing lagoons.” Kyle Marchant, Nephi Public Works Director, has been working on implementation since receiving council approval. At this point in the process, Atkinson said, Sunrise Engineering has presented the city with a contract to perform feasibility and funding assistance phases of the lagoon project. This process will help the engineer identify the best location for additional ponds and potentially help the city obtain funding for modification and construction of new sewer lagoon ponds, he said. “This contract does not include design or construction engineering costs, it is only to gain information on the best location for the proposed project, a separate contract will be presented by Sunrise Engineering once a proper location has been identified,” said Atkinson. He said that the staff had reviewed the contract and would recommend that the city enter into the contract with Sunrise Engineering as set forth in the contract. Travis Worwood, council member, made the motion to enter into a preliminary feasibility and funding contract with Sunrise Engineering to identify proper location and potential funding for new sewer lagoons. Shari Cowan, council member, made the second and all voted in favor. The contract will be effective as of the date of its full execution by the city and Sunrise. “The wastewater treatment lagoon cells are nearing capacity, as indicated in the city’s recent Wastewater Master Plan,” said Atkinson. The Nephi City Wastewater Improvement Project will add treatment and disposal capacity by constructing one or more new lagoon cells and reconfiguring the operation of one or more existing lagoon cells. He said that consideration was also being given to installing a headworks screen near the Nephi Airport to increase the lifespan of the treatment lagoons. The scope of engineering services included in the contract include feasibility study services, funding and administrative services, preliminary engineering services, final design services, bid phase services and construction engineering services. The initial contract will include the budget associated with the feasibility study, which will be $66,000, and funding services; scope and compensation for the remaining services will be established following the feasibility and funding phases of work. Sunrise will provide feasibility phase services and will prepare a feasibility study report to document the findings of the analyses. Services will include a UAV Lidar survey of approximately a 600-acre area, and limited hard shot topographic survey of the controlling features around the existing lagoon facility. Manhole rim and invert elevations will be collected for approximately eight manholes above and below the proposed headworks area and above the existing lagoon inlet. A concept level tract map will be created for the existing sewer lagoon facilities, and the north and south expansion areas. Upon completion of the feasibility study, additional survey work may be required to facilitate detailed design and any boundary survey services required. Geotechnical services will consist of excavating up to ten exploratory test pits in the area of the proposed lagoon expansion to observe subsurface conditions and collect samples for laboratory testing. Results of the field and laboratory investigation will be summarized in a report along with geotechnical recommendations relating to the construction of new lagoon embankments and soil liners. “There are a lot of parts to the study,” said Jeramie Callaway, council member. “We may need to bring power to the site.” The evaluation will consider property ownership, elevations conducive to lagoon operations, access, and permitting requirements and develop an engineer’s opinion of probable cost for the project based on the recommended lagoon expansion and reconfiguration approach. Assist with the preparation of funding applications for a planning advance from the Utah Division of Water Quality and one or more project funding applications with either the Water Quality Board and/or Community Impact Board as directed by the city and provide administrative and engineering support throughout the funding phase. The following services with their respective scopes of work and budgets will be added to the contract by amendment, as needed. Environmental Report (ER) – It is anticipated that the project may be funded in part by the Water Quality Board with funds administered from or through the Federal State Revolving Fund (SRF). As a result, the project may need to be reviewed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If required, Sunrise will provide an Environmental Study and Report. It is anticipated that the city will purchase property for the lagoon expansion and the engineer will provide survey services as required in support of a property purchase. |
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